Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs has been appointed interim manager of Manchester United following the sacking of David Moyes.

United sacked Moyes just 10 months after he succeeded Alex Ferguson at the helm of one of the world's most famous clubs.

Axed: Former Manchester United manager David Moyes. Photo: Getty Images

‘‘Following the departure of David Moyes as manager, Manchester United has announced that Ryan Giggs, the club’s most decorated player, will assume responsibility for the first team until a permanent appointment can be made,’’ read a statement published on the United website on Tuesday.

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‘‘The club will make no further comment on this process until it is concluded.’’

Giggs, 40, made his United debut in March 1991 and has made a record 962 appearances for the club, winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, four FA Cups, four League Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup.

He has no previous managerial experience but has combined his role as a player with a position on United’s coaching staff since the start of the current campaign.

After a day of speculation in the British media, the Premier League giants on Tuesday confirmed the Scot's departure in a brief statement on their Twitter account.

"Manchester United announces that David Moyes has left the club," United said.

"The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role."

Rumours of Moyes's imminent departure began to swirl on Monday, with the club refusing to comment when asked if he was facing the sack.

British newspaper reports on Tuesday said Moyes had been informed of his fate during an early-morning meeting with chief executive Ed Woodward at the club's Carrington training ground.

United host Norwich City on Saturday in the first of their four remaining league games this season.

Louis van Gaal, the current Netherlands coach, has been installed as the favourite to succeed Moyes on a permanent basis by British bookmakers, with Jurgen Klopp of Borussia Dortmund another rumoured contender.

Ferguson, British football's most successful manager, personally hand-picked Moyes to succeed him after announcing his retirement last May following 26 and a half trophy-studded years at Old Trafford.

Moyes inherited a team that had romped to the Premier League title - United's 20th English league crown - by 11 points, but he endured a torrid debut campaign.

United have slumped to seventh place in the league table and been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions and the Champions League.

Moyes's last game in charge was a 2-0 loss at his former club Everton, which confirmed that United will not compete in the Champions League next season for the first time since 1995.

The defeat, United's 11th of the league campaign, left the defending champions 13 points below the Champions League places and 23 points behind leaders Liverpool.

They face a struggle even to qualify for the second-tier Europa League, lying six points below sixth-place Tottenham Hotspur with four matches to play.

Of their league defeats, six have come at home, and there have been demoralising home-and-away losses to arch rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, as well as Everton.

Moyes's transfer dealings proved equally disappointing, with STG27.5 million ($A49.82 million) midfielder Marouane Fellaini, signed from Everton, and STG37.1 million record signing Juan Mata, who arrived from Chelsea in January, struggling to make an impact.

As a result, United's American owners, the Glazer family, reportedly felt uneasy about the prospect of handing him the funds needed to rebuild the squad during the forthcoming close season.

AAP

42 comments so far

Was never gonna work with Fergie looking over your shoulder. Man U are missing a quality striker. RVPs career is on the wane. Rooney playing 2 roles like he is now ain't gonna work.

Commenter

Spike

Date and time

April 22, 2014, 6:14PM

Chelsea don't have a single striker yet have competed for the title. Next excuse? Moyes didn't have the respect of the players simple as that.

Commenter

Rob

Location

Sydney

Date and time

April 22, 2014, 8:07PM

Thanks for the laugh Rob. Chelsea is where strikers go to ruin their careers. Demba Ba, Fernando Torres were top of the pops before they joined Chelsea, Samuel Eto was brought in because Chelsea failed to get the best out of Ba and Torres who are out and out strikers. You could field a team for the number of coaches who have been sacked by Chelsea.

Commenter

Spike

Date and time

April 22, 2014, 9:23PM

Rob, the money these players are paid to perform, they should play at Thier best if they like or dislike the players. Pathetic. I've worked at places where I thought my boss was a complete dill, still focused on earning my money not sulking and not performing. If its true they didn't play for him, sack the players and demand they repay MU for failure to perform

Commenter

Just saying

Date and time

April 22, 2014, 9:35PM

Toxic position from the start.....Lucky guy who replaces Moyes

Commenter

Bank Casino

Location

Reality

Date and time

April 23, 2014, 12:23AM

Fergie first few seasons: 1986-87 -10th Finish, 1987-88 -2nd Finish, 1988-89 -11th finish, 1989-90 -13th finish. Some of those were far worst than Moyes first season at United.

Commenter

TheBillABCTV

Date and time

April 23, 2014, 9:25AM

Don't worry David. It is all about self interest these days and short term fixes.

The guys up top can't think past a year these days because it is way too much thinking for the money they are on!

Frank Farina somehow managed to get an absolute @#$% Sydney FC team to the A league finals and he still got sacked.

I mean an absolute @#$% Sydney FC team!

Does the board get sacked. No, they get a @#$%ing bonus

Commenter

Andy

Date and time

April 23, 2014, 6:31PM

I feel sorry for him. He was in a no win situation. When he lost it was his fault but if he won it was to do with Alex. I pity anyone taking the job, but saying that it will be easier coming in second.

Commenter

Kris

Location

Sydney

Date and time

April 22, 2014, 6:19PM

Why would you feel sorry for him? He's getting a huge payout and he'll find another job. It was never going to be easy stepping in after Whiskey Nose but they were shocking.

23 Apr
Sacking a manager 10 months into a six-year contract is only one sign of vast cultural change at Manchester United. Another was Alex Ferguson striding on to the Old Trafford pitch along an avenue of DHL flags to wave goodbye after 26 years in charge.